Steel importer looks at regular vessel on SA - Liverpool route

Leonard Neill
STEEL PRODUCERS in South Africa are not guilty of 'dumping' their products abroad, as some US authorities claim. What they should however guard against is being greedy
and taking all they can
get from the present rand-dollar exchange situation without ploughing something back into the industry, says Michael Moyles, chief executive of Sanchez, British manufacturers of wire mesh for concrete reinforcement.
"I don't think your producers can be accused of dumping," he said in Johannesburg last week. "They go about their business in a pretty sound way, but I notice a trend among them to wet their lips with anticipation at the profit margin to be gained by selling abroad while the rand is low-rated against other currencies, without sharing some of this with partners whom they have developed in the trading arena. If you are starting a new alliance you should give your business partner extra benefits to cement the relationship.
Sanchez imported 5 000 tons of South African steel through the port of Liverpool in August, the first from the Republic entering a harbour which handles 800 000 tons from non-European countries annually.
Moyles is currently purchasing another 10 000 tons in this country which he sees as the baseload for
a regular South African vessel call at Liverpool on which other South African exporters can piggyback.
Sanchez has now established a liaison office in Sandton, headed by Glynis Bailey, who has extensive experience in shipping and trading.